Pillow rest for caskets



Patented Dec. 29, l

UNITED STATES JOHN C. RUMSEY, OF LAWRENCE, KANSAS.

PILLOW BEST FOR CASKETS.

Application filed January 26, 1925. Serial No. 4,758.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. RUMSE'Y, a citizen of the United States, and' resident of Lawrence, in the county of Douglas and State of Kansas, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pillow Rests for Caskets, of which the following is a complete specification.

The present invention relates to apparatus designed for use' by undertakers, and has reference particularly to the devices used for supporting the head of a corpse on being placed within the burial casket, and preventing the head from settling down from the i proper elevation after this position has once been adjusted.

Accordingly, it is one of the objects of my invention to provide a pillow rest or supporting device of an adjustable character which is adapted to be Conveniently Secured within the head end of the casket and readily adjusted to position the head of the corpse at any' desired elevation, and thereafter permanently maintain this position of adjustment.

It is further sought to provide a construction which will permit of convenient manipulation to effect any final adjustment of the device which may be required for altering or correcting the position of the head within the casket. i

It is also an object of the invention to provide a light and inexpensive Construction which will be economical to mauufacture and also adapted to be folded into conpacr form until it is put into use.

lVith the foregoing objects in View, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating one form of embodiment of the improved device, after which those features or combinations deemed to be novel will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawing- I Figure l is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation illustrating its position of use within a casket, the dotted lines in said view showing a different position of adjustment; and

Figure 3 is a side View (on a smaller scale) showing a casket with the head end of the same partially broken away to disclose the interier, with the improved pillow-support ing device in operative position.

` Referring now to said drawing in detail, this illustrates my improved device as com prising a fixed bracket element 5 adapted to be Secured, as by screws 6, to the interior bottom face 7 of a burial casket 8, and a second fixed bracket element 9 designed to be similarly secured by screws 6 to the interior face 10 of the head end of the casket, at a suitable distance above the bottom, as llustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The bracket element 9 is provided with pivot pins such as shouldered rivets 12 for the pivotal mounting of a pair of supporting arms 14:, the free ends of which are pivotally con nected, as indicated at 15, to lugs 16 depending from the mid-portion of a framework, indicated generally by the reference numeral 17 and designed to act as a pillow-rest member for carrying the pillow 18 (see Figure 3) which is placed beneath the head of the corpse.

The bracket element 5 is provided with pivot elements 20 for the pivotal mounting of the .lower ends of a supporting frame 22, of substantially U-shape, so that its upper cross-portion 23 serves as a handle convenient for use in etl'ecting the adjustment of the device, as will be later explained. To

the midpoints of the sides of the frame 22 are pivotally connected, as indicated at 24, a pair of brace pieces 25, which are-also pivot ally connected, as indicated at 26, to the ends of the arms 14- adjacent to the lugs 16.

The upper edges of the arms 14:, adjaeent to the bracket 9, are each provided With a series of notches 28 for engagement with a cross bar 29, the ends of which are slidingly carried in slots 30 cut'in the upper ends of the side portions of the frame 22. This adjustable connection between the supporting frame 22 and the arms 14: enables the latter to be raised or lowered for varying the elevation of the frame 17 The latter is also provided with a pivoted latch element 32 having a series of notches 33 for engagement with a latch pin 34 on one of the arms 14, for the purpose of latching the frame 17 in different angular positions with reference.

to the aXis of its pivots 15.

The use of the devce will be readily un- CTS derstood in the light ot the foregong and particularly in View of the illustrations shown in Figures 2 and 3. The backet elements 5 and 9 are Secured in the positions shown, either before the padding 'or cushioning material is put in place, or said material is displaced sufiiciently to accommodate the device. hen it is desired to adjust the position of the pillow-rest frame 17 to present the head of the corpse in the proper position, the operator reaches inside the head end ot the casket to grasp the crossportion 23 ot' the supporting trame 22, at the same time releasing the bar 29 from the notches 28, and thereby raises or lowers the frame and correspondingly moves the supporting arms and frame 17,-the dotted lines in Figure 2 illustrating this frame 17 raised to its maximum elevaton. lVhen the desired elevation of the frame 17 is obtained, the bar 29 is relatched with the notches 28 and thus serves to securely maintain the supporting ''ame and arms in this position of adjustment and the pivot points of the trame 17 are thereafter fixed against any further downward movement. This t'i-ame 17 is now tilted about the aXis of the pivots 15 to whatever angle is best adapted tor presenting the head of the corpse n the most natural position, after which the frame 17 may be latched in its final adjusted position by means of the latch element 32, m an obvious manner.

It is thus apparent that I have devised a practical and efiicient means of supporting 'the pillow rest and head of the corpse sustained thereby, and that this supporting function is maintained constant regardless of any settling of the padding or cushioning material, the settling of which Would otherwise allow a corresponcling sagging of the head of the corpse into an unsightly position. Moreover, the adjustment of the device to obtain any desired or natural position of the head is carried out in a most conwnient mauner by n'anipulation of the 'l'rane 22 through the medium of its cross or handle portion 23, and this can be accomplished at any time, either before or after the placing of the corpse in thecasket, so that a final alteration or correction of the position of the head of the corpse may be carried out it necessary. lVhile I have illustrated and described what I now deem to constitute the preferred form of embodiment ot the iuvention, I desire to expressly reserve the right to make such changes or modilications as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device of the character described comprising a pair of fixed bracl-;et elements, supporting' membe s having separate pivmember.

2. A device of the character described comprising a pair of fixed bracket elements, a supporting 'frame pivoted to one of said bracket elements, supporting arms pivoted to the other of said bracket elements, a pillow rest member carried by said supporting arms, and connections between said supporting frame and arms adapted to secure said frame and arms in different positions of adjust'nent for varying the elevation ot' said pillow rest member.

pair of relatively fixed bracket elements, one adapted to be Secured to the bottom and 'the other at a slight distance above the bottom ot the casket, supporting members having separate pivotal connections with said bracket elements, a pillow rest member carried by one of said supporting members, and connections between said supporting members adapted to secure said supporting members in different positions of adjustment 'or varying the elevation of said pillow rest member.

4. device ot the character described comprsing a pair of fixed bracket elements, a pillow rest member provided with a supporting member pivotally connected to one of said bracket elements, a second supporting member pivotally connected to the other bracket element and adjustably connected with said first supporting member, and a brace member pivotally connecting intermediate portions of said supporting'members.

5. A device of the character described comprising a pair of 'fixed bracket elements, a supporting member having one end pivotally connected to one of said bracket elements, a pillow rest member pivotally carried by the other end of said supporting member, a second supporting member adjustably connected at one end to said first supporting member and having its other end pivotally connected to the other of said bracket elements, and a brace member pivotally connecting intermediate portions of said supporting members.

6. A pillow rest for caskets comprising a pair of relatively' fixed bracket elements, one adapted to be secured to the bottom and the other at a slight distance above the bottom of the casket, supporting arms pivoted to the upper bracket -element, a pillow rest member pivotallycarried by the free ends of said arms, a supporting frame having its lower end pivoted to the lower bracket element, the upper end of said frame being adjustably connected with said supporting o. A pillow rest for caskets comprising 'a arms, ancl brace members p'ivotally connecting the intermediate portion of sai-d frame with the free end portions of said arms.

7. A pillow rest for oaskets comprising a pair of 'elatvely fixed braoket elements, one adapted to be Secured to the bottom and the other at a slight distance above the bottom of the casket, a pillow rest member provided With a supporting member pivotecl to the upper of said braoket elements, a frame member having its lower end pivoted to the lower of said bracket elements, a

lateh bar slidingly oarried by the upper portion of said 'rzme member, said supporting member having a notchecl portion providing a series of notohes 'oi' engagement by said bar in Varying the elevation of said pillow rest member, and a brace member pvotally oonneeting intermediate portions of said frame and supporting members.

In Witness Whereof I he'eunto afiiX my signature.

JOHN C. RUMSEY. 

